Jeff Crisci of Vocera Communications gave a presentation on this subject at the 2008 Virginia Library Association Conference. He is a representative for Vocera which created a markets a mobile communication system for staff. Their system is in about 500 hospitals and some libraries, most notably the Columbus Metro Library in Columbus, OH.
Jeff claims that you can serve more patrons without paying more money for staff time using this system. With the system, staff carry badges around their necks.
Jeff claims that you can serve more patrons without paying more money for staff time using this system. With the system, staff carry badges around their necks.
In order to communicate with someone in the building, you push a button on the badge, say "Call David" and the system will put you in touch with David. It is all done with voice commands. You hands are freee to do other things. You can call groups of people too. For instance, if the library director wanted to tell all the staff something at one time, she could speak the command to send the message to everybody and it would be sent.
The main advantage of the Vocera system is every staff member would have their own communication device with them at all times. If the pages are in the back of the library and the circulation desk needs them at the desk, they could call them directly.
If someone comes to the reference desk and has a question for a particular staff member, the question could be relayed to the staff member no matter where they were. If the staff member was in the lounge they could be contacted directly and the staff member could continue to eat lunch while they respond to the call because the system is hands free. Of course, they couldn't chew and talk at the same time, but you get the idea.
Another application would be to place a call button on patron computers that would be linked to staff badges. The patron could push the button and talk directly to a staff member. This would be especially helpful to communicate between patrons in a computer lab that is not close to a desk.
The Vocera system can communicate with the current phone system and works over an existing Wi-Fi network. The system should allow for more efficient use of staff. The system is a bit expensive though with a price beginning at about $10,000.
Alan
The main advantage of the Vocera system is every staff member would have their own communication device with them at all times. If the pages are in the back of the library and the circulation desk needs them at the desk, they could call them directly.
If someone comes to the reference desk and has a question for a particular staff member, the question could be relayed to the staff member no matter where they were. If the staff member was in the lounge they could be contacted directly and the staff member could continue to eat lunch while they respond to the call because the system is hands free. Of course, they couldn't chew and talk at the same time, but you get the idea.
Another application would be to place a call button on patron computers that would be linked to staff badges. The patron could push the button and talk directly to a staff member. This would be especially helpful to communicate between patrons in a computer lab that is not close to a desk.
The Vocera system can communicate with the current phone system and works over an existing Wi-Fi network. The system should allow for more efficient use of staff. The system is a bit expensive though with a price beginning at about $10,000.
Alan
